Big Mamma reports rise in turnover as it plots more UK restaurants
Turnover at Big Mamma rose by a quarter in 2025 with the casual dining group reporting ‘high demand’ across its UK restaurant estate.
Casual Dining
DGB Hospitality Group to revive Liverpool’s The Black Horse and Rainbow
DGB Hospitality Group will open its ninth Liverpool city centre venue later this summer.
Bubala to open ‘most ambitious site to date’ in Covent Garden
Marc Summers, founder of the Middle Eastern restaurant Bubala, has chosen Covent Garden for the brand’s ‘most ambitious’ opening to date.
Giraffe lands at Edinburgh Airport
TRGC, the UK travel food and drink division of The Restaurant Group, has opened a Giraffe restaurant at Edinburgh Airport.
Sophie’s to shutter Chelsea restaurant after nearly 25 years
Sophie’s Steakhouse & Bar has announced it will be closing its Chelsea restaurant on Fulham Road at the end of the month after a run of almost a quarter of a century.
Fulham Shore CEO Marcel Khan to stand down
Marcel Khan is to step down from his role as chief executive of Fulham Shore having overseen the CVA and restructure of Franco Manca and the sale of The Real Greek.
Cinder’s Jake Finn to open new venture in St John’s Wood
Chef owner of Cinder Jake Finn is opening a new bakery, all-day bistro and wine bar in St John’s Wood next month.
Farm Girl to launch fundraise ahead of Mayfair opening
Healthy food brand Farm Girl is launching a crowdfund to support the opening of its fourth location.
UK eating out market growth revised down
The UK eating out market will reach a value of £102.8bn in 2026, according to new forecasts.
Ardent Pub Group and Popeyes named among The Sunday Times Best Places to Work
Popeyes and Ardent Pub Group have been recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list 2026.
The team behind Aldeburgh’s The Suffolk to open a second site
Restaurateur George Pell and the team behind Aldeburgh restaurant The Suffolk will open a pub in nearby Easton later this month.
Pizza Express reports a strong first quarter with like-for-like sales up 5%
Pizza Express reports a 5% rise in UK like-for-like sales in the first quarter of FY26, as the group says it continues to outperform the wider casual dining market.
‘Industry working incredibly hard just to stand still’ as hospitality sees sales decline
Hospitality groups experienced a 0.4% decline in like-for-like sales in April, as consumers continued to tighten their spend.
Faber team to open Canary Wharf community-led pub
The team behind seafood restaurant Faber as well as pubs The Somers Town Coffee House and The Victoria and 26-cover restaurant Above will open a new community-led pub later this summer.
Comment
Comment: is Pizza Express’ new QSR format a masterstroke or pie in the sky?
The casual dining pizza giant’s new, smaller format in Brixton targeting on-the-go eating has divided opinion...
Hop Vietnamese to open fifth London restaurant
Hop Vietnamese is to open its seventh restaurant, having secured a site on London’s Tottenham Court Road.
Dirty Bones closes Carnaby restaurant
New York-inspired restaurant brand Dirty Bones has announced the closure of its Carnaby site.
70-year-old restaurant group Spaghetti House closes
One of the UK’s oldest restaurant groups has closed all of its sites after falling into administration.
Fogo de Chão and Fazenda Rodizio unify under one global brand
Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão has announced the unification of its UK restaurants under a single global brand, following its 2024 acquisition of Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill.
Shaftesbury Capital says demand for space remains high in 2026
Shaftesbury Capital says there continues to be competitive demand for space in its high-footfall destinations as it reported a ‘positive start’ to the year.
Rosa’s Thai reports sales increase as it secures new finance deal
Rosa’s Thai has reported a rise in annual sales that push it past the £50m mark.
More food and drink venues revealed for new Olympia development
A collection of bars and a food hall will open next month as part of the new Olympia development in London.
Coppa Collective sees revenues rise, led by its Coppa Club brand
Coppa Collective has reported a rise in like-for-like sales and group revenue in its half-year trading update.
Evolv Collection reports ‘transformative period’ of growth
The Evolv Collection has reported revenue of £151.6m for the 15 months ending 31 December 2025 with ‘healthy’ life-for-like growth across its 28-strong UK and US estate.
Mark Selby: " I would get into a cold sweat whenever I read about a new Mexican restaurant opening"
The Wahaca co-founder has moved from CEO to the less hands-on role of chairman, but he’s no less focused on its evolution and growth.
Big Table gets green light to proceed with Las Iguanas restructuring plan
The future of the Las Iguanas group is to go to a creditor vote after its owner received approval from the High Court.
Influential restaurant designer Philip Harrison steps down after almost 50 years in the industry
Philip Harrison is stepping back from day-to-day operations at his hospitality design firm Harrison after 37 years at the helm.
Indian food group to make UK debut with huge Leicester Square restaurant
India’s largest sweet and snack brand will open its first restaurant in the UK this June.
Thinking outside the box: how big pizza is embracing sourdough
The UK’s largest pizza chains are adding artisan-inspired products to their core range amid intense competition from smaller-scale, on-trend brands
Pret a Manger opens first drive thru in Warrington
Pret A Manger has opened its first drive-thru shop in Warrington, marking a new trial format for the brand as Pret continues to expand its presence in transport and travel locations across the UK.
Fast-food and casual dining traffic falls at fastest rate for two years
The fast-food and casual dining restaurant sectors have seen their steepest decline in consumer traffic for two years in the first quarter of 2026.
Majority of The Real Greek sites saved as Côte owner makes purchase
The Real Greek will continue to have a presence on UK high streets following the purchase of 19 of its 28 restaurants.
Stow duo open Trof Pub & Dining Room in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
The duo behind Manchester restaurant Stow have reopened their Trof restaurant as the Trof Pub & Dining Room.
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants to close with 3,800 jobs at risk
Premier Inn owner Whitbread is to close its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants, with the loss of around 3,800 jobs.
Pizza Express moves into QSR with new restaurant format
Pizza Express is moving into the QSR space with a new restaurant format that will feature ordering kiosks and an emphasis on takeaway.
Karali Group in ‘advanced talks’ to buy part of The Real Greek restaurant estate
The group behind Côte Restaurants is reportedly close to buying a bulk of The Real Greek’s restaurant estate as part of a pre-pack deal.
Uncle Hon’s BBQ launches crowdfund for first permanent restaurant
Man Hon Luk has launched a crowdfund campaign to open his first permanent Uncle Hon’s BBQ restaurant in London’s Hackney Wick.
Nando’s reaches 500-site milestone with Leatherhead opening
Nando’s UK & Ireland has opened its 500th restaurant, marking a major milestone for the South African-born fast casual piri piri chicken brand.
Tonkotsu to open in Bath later this year
Ramen specialist Tonkotsu has announced it will open in Bath city centre later this year.
Basque cheesecake specialist La Maritxu to open fourth London site
London-based Basque cheesecake brand has chosen King’s Cross for its fourth London site.
Restaurants return to growth in March
Britain’s restaurant groups reported modest like-for-like sales growth of 2.5% in March against the same month the previous year, according to new data.
Chickpea Group to open 10th pub-with-rooms with first Hampshire site
Pubs with rooms specialist Chickpea Group will open its 10th pub-with-rooms next month and also make its debut in Hampshire.
Cosy Club to make London debut
Loungers will bring its more formal restaurant and cocktail bar concept, Cosy Club, to London later this year after securing a site at Westfield Stratford City.
Ottolenghi to open Scotland restaurant
Yotam Ottolenghi is crossing the border to Scotland for his eleventh UK venue.
Bunsik chooses the South Coast for its 10th restaurant as franchise model grows
Korean street food brand Bunsik will hit double figures later this month with the opening of a restaurant in Southampton.
Latest opening: Café Jikoni
The all-day cafe that promises ‘restorative hospitality’ and ‘cooking across borders’ has opened in Stratford.
Comptoir Group reduces its losses as cost efficiencies take effect
Comptoir Group says operational efficiencies and a push for covers has helped decrease its losses in its current financial year.
Hospitality insolvencies on the rise as tax burden increases and dip in consumer confidence takes hold
The number of accommodation and foodservice businesses entering insolvency increased by 22% month-on-month, according to the latest figures.
MEATliquor appoints administrators
MEATliquor has officially appointed administrators, having closed more than half of its restaurant estate.
Franco Manca to close 16 sites under CVA
Fulham Shore is to launch a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) this week for its pizza brand Franco Manca that will result in around 16 of its 70 UK restaurants closing.